"Dulcie!"

But, suddenly, it was a hot-faced, pa.s.sionate, sobbing child who was clinging desperately to his arm and staunching her tears against it--saying nothing more, merely clinging close with quivering lips.

"Listen," he said impulsively. "I'll give you time. If there's anything you can learn that will admit you to France, come back to town with me and learn it.... Because I don't want to leave you, either.... There ought to be some way--some way----" He checked himself abruptly, stared at the bowed head under its torrent of splendid hair--at the desperate white little hands holding so fast to his sleeve, at the slender body gathered there in the deep chair, and all aquiver now.

"We'll go--together," he said unsteadily.... "I'll do what I can; I promise.... You must go upstairs to bed, now.... Dulcie!... dear girl...."

She released his arm, tried to get up from her chair obediently, blinded by tears and groping in the starlight.

"Let me guide you----" His voice was strained, his touch feverish and unsteady, and the convulsive closing of her fingers over his seemed to burn to his very bones.

At the stairs she tried to speak, thanking him, asking pardon for her tears, her loss of self-command, penitent, afraid that she had lowered herself, strained his friendship--troubled him----

"No. I--_want_ you," he said in an odd, indistinct, hesitating voice....

"Things must be cleared up--matters concerning us--affairs----" he muttered.

She closed her eyes a moment and rested both hands on the banisters as though fatigued, then she looked down at him where he stood watching her:

"If you had rather go without me--if it is better for you--less troublesome----"

"I've told you," he said in a dull voice, "I want you. You must fit yourself to go."

"You are so kind to me--so wonderful----"

He merely stared at her; she turned almost wearily to resume her ascent.

"Dulcie!"

She had reached the landing above. She bent over, looking down at him in the dusk.

"Did you understand?"

"I--yes, I think so."

"That I _want_ you?"

"Yes."

"It is true. I want you always. I'm just beginning to understand that myself. Please don't ever forget what I say to you now, Dulcie; I want you. I shall always want you. Always! As long as I live."

She leaned heavily on the newel-post above, looking down.

He could not see that her eyes were closed, that her lips moved in voiceless answer. She was only a vague white shape there in the dusk above him--a mystery which seemed to have been suddenly born out of some poignant confusion of his own mind.

He saw her turn, fade into the darkness. And he stood there, not moving, aware of the chaos within him, of shapeless questions being evolved out of this profound disturbance--of an inner consciousness groping with these questions--questions involving other questions and menacing him with the necessity of decision.

After a while, too, he became conscious of his own voice sounding there in the darkness:

"I am very near to love.... I have been close to it.... It would be very easy to fall in love to-night.... But I am wondering--about to-morrow.... And afterward.... But I have been very near--very near to love, to-night...."

The front doorbell rang through the darkness.

XXV

STARLIGHT

When Barres opened the front door he saw Renoux standing there in the shadow of the porch, silhouetted against the starlight. They exchanged a silent grip; Renoux stepped inside; Barres closed the front door.

"Shall I light up?" he asked in a low voice.

"No. There are complications. I've been followed, I think. Take me somewhere near a window which commands the driveway out there. I'd like to keep my eye on it while we are talking."

"Come on," said Barres, under his breath. He guided Renoux through the shadowy entrance hall to the library, moved two padded armchairs to the window facing the main drive, motioned Renoux to seat himself.

"When did you arrive?" he asked in a cautious voice.

"This morning."

"What! You got here before we did!"

"Yes. I followed Souchez and Alost. Do you know who _they_ were following?"

"No."

"One of your guests at dinner this evening."

"Skeel!"

Renoux nodded:

"Yes. You saw them start for the train. Skeel was on the train. But the conference at your studio delayed me. So I came up by automobile last night."

"And you've been here all day?"

Renoux nodded, but his keen eyes were fixed on the drive, shining silver-grey in the starlight. And his gaze continually reverted to it while he continued speaking:

"My friend, things are happening. Let me first tell you what is the situation. Over this entire hemisphere German spies are busy, German intrigue and propaganda are being accelerated, treason is spreading from a thousand foci of infection.

"In South America matters are very serious. A revolution is being planned by the half million Germans in Brazil; the neutrality of Argentine is being most grossly violated and Count Luxburg, the boche Amba.s.sador, is already tampering with Chile and other Southern Republics.

"Of course, the Mexican trouble is due to German intrigue which is trying desperately to involve that Republic and yours and also drag in j.a.pan.

"In Honolulu the German cruiser which your Government has interned is sending out wireless information while her band plays to drown the crackle of the instrument.